Hi KuulArt,
Thanks for your interest. As you can read from the post above, I hit a snag and I'm updating the internal components to fix it and improve everything about the unit. I really thought I was able to have a fully functional unit by the end of this month, but the changes I'm making are delaying this. I rather delay it 1 month than send out a product that is not fantastic.
So, looking to finish this in February. I will probably do a 10 unit run first. Take deposits to help pay for the parts, then will most likely ship 1 month after deposits. So, if say, I take deposits mid-late February, then I could ship mid-late March. I'd like to do it faster, but when I send out for printing board, it takes 1-2 weeks. Making the cases takes 2-3 weeks. So everything is dependent on the manufacturing. If it was up to me I'd get this thing finished in 2 weeks, but sometimes I feel like my hands are tied.
I'll keep you posted with progress as more things get done.
I understand, thank you for the detailed answer.
All things considered this seems to be moving in a very rapid pace.
Do you have some ballpark estimate for the price?
I have been wanting something like this for ages and even considered building my own but I could only imagine how much time and effort it would take.
I understand, thank you for the detailed answer.
All things considered this seems to be moving in a very rapid pace.
Do you have some ballpark estimate for the price?
I have been wanting something like this for ages and even considered building my own but I could only imagine how much time and effort it would take.
The price is one of the elusive items of the project. Ideally, I'd like to keep it below $1000. But the problem is that with all the changes, I really have to figure it out when I commission 10 units to be made.
Adding the new chip to the encoder modules will make it very difficult to keep the encoder modules the same size as they are now. They were already pretty tight as far as electronic parts. So, if adding this chip increases the size of the encoders even 5-8mm in one direction, then the entire unit gets much bigger. And I'm trying to keep it no larger than the size of a Letter sheet of paper 8.5"x11". (which is pretty much the smallest you can keep these encoders fit without putting them too tight and always be bumping other encoders). One thought is to make the board be a 4 layer boards instead of 2 layer boards to try and keep the size the same. This would help, but will add perhaps another $50-80 to the cost. So, trying to avoid this. As it is, the new additions (new chip, faster CPU, Direct connection) will add maybe $30-50 to the production cost.
What I might do is sell the first 10 units at a discounted price, even if I make very little money on them. And then do another 10 units at slightly higher price. and eventually get units at a price where I can make it a business and sustainable. Now mind you, other companies (meaning larger companies) would not touch this unless they could make at the very least 100-200% profits on a product such as this. I don't think I'll be making nearly those kind of profits. I'm a small operation, so my overhead is smaller. What I can say is that the initial batches will be people that are not paying too much more than the cost of the unit.
I hope once I get twenty units out in the real world, that those users will be so happy with them that they will be my ambassadors and share videos and testimonials. That will help drive sales for sure. And when they have others try the units, I think they will see the real value and all the features included. I don't think people will understand the potential until they really see it at work. But I better just let the unit do the talking.
Just out of interest, how confident would you be about shipping units (or at least, taking full payment) before 5th April?
That MAY have an impact on my decision about whether I can order (due to tax year/accounting reasons).
Andy
I won't take partial payment until I know for sure I can deliver a Full Working Product I will be proud to put my name on. Therefore, if you need to make full payment at that time due to tax reasons, then I could certainly take full payment at that time. I just don't want to make a habit of it. Once I get 10-20 units sold, I should be a little better off where I may be able to build units and then sell them when they are completed. So, I'm pretty sure I can make that happen prior to April 5th.
I know there are some small manufacturers that work the other way around and although their products are top notch, their reputation has suffered because of delays delivering product. (I'm thinking about a specific audio manufacturer from Chile which makes great gear, but people have to wait almost a year at times).
The only exception to that statement is if I do a crowd funding campaign where I try to sell 200 or 500 or even 1000 units. That would make it impossible for me to deliver so many within a month. But that will be stated on the crowdfunding campaign so that people can know what to expect as far as delivery times.
Thanks - I had a look through all their categories but couldn't really see one that fit exactly. Sound recording equipment seemed the closest, but there didn't even seem to be a category for electronic musical instruments that I could find.
So yeah, maybe list it under "Nuclear Reactors or parts thereof" :-D
Thanks - I had a look through all their categories but couldn't really see one that fit exactly. Sound recording equipment seemed the closest, but there didn't even seem to be a category for electronic musical instruments that I could find.
So yeah, maybe list it under "Nuclear Reactors or parts thereof" :-D
A.
Hahaha. Yeah. I searched for Midi controller and that one came up. Not sure how the go from "Section XVI: Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment; parts thereof, sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles"
to "Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof"????
But that second link I have says "signal generators" and I'm thinking that this controller generates MIDI signals. So, I'm thinking the second link might be more correct.
Also, if you consider Reaper/another DAW a "Sound Recorder" then this would be a "parts or accessories thereof", so the second category is probably the one :-)
The DJ Techtools folks were fairly creative on their declaration for the MFT I got during a sale. $200 came to about 240 Euros, about 32 below normal. You could ask them. They're nice people.
NOTE: This post has many images. In the interest of keeping the thread from overflowing with large images, I created smaller images with a link to the full size image below it. Please click on the link to view the large size file.
That being stated, I'd like to ask anyone that has the time and inclination to take a look at the images and let me know what you think. I've created most of the GUI for my FX Configurator. I'm speaking to a developer (coder) to get the app to do all the necessary functions to create a ZONE Text file, but also load any previously made Zone file, etc...
If you need an explanation, or if I've left out some function that needs to be added, please let me know.
looks nice, but why not have the display above the encoder? Isn't that much better readable while turning knobs?
Actually, I had it with the screens above initially but after I assembled the first prototype it became clear that the screen below is actually less blocked by fingers when turning the knob. The only way that it worked with the screen above was when the surface was tilted above 60-65 degrees. If you read some of the previous posts, you can see some of the test footage.
Hi Luis, looks great! When it comes to the displays, maybe it would help to choose what you want to do in the display. I'm imagining one more dropdown column in the GUI that shows the type of display. So first you pick "FXParamNameDisplay" or maybe "FXParamValueDisplay" then you drag in the FXParamater from the left. Maybe the dropdown includes options for:
I'd probably have a dropdown with the above display types, then in the field to the right of that allow users to drag parameters, or enter freeform text if using the FixedTextDisplay. Very similar to what you're currently doing just slightly different.
Actually, I had it with the screens above initially but after I assembled the first prototype it became clear that the screen below is actually less blocked by fingers when turning the knob. The only way that it worked with the screen above was when the surface was tilted above 60-65 degrees. If you read some of the previous posts, you can see some of the test footage.
Hi Luis, looks great! When it comes to the displays, maybe it would help to choose what you want to do in the display. I'm imagining one more dropdown column in the GUI that shows the type of display. So first you pick "FXParamNameDisplay" or maybe "FXParamValueDisplay" then you drag in the FXParamater from the left. Maybe the dropdown includes options for:
I'd probably have a dropdown with the above display types, then in the field to the right of that allow users to drag parameters, or enter freeform text if using the FixedTextDisplay. Very similar to what you're currently doing just slightly different.
Anyway, just a thought. Very excited.
Funkybot,
You'll have to explain it a little better for me. As always, I'm all ears.
Here's a video I made showing the basic (navigation) functionality for the app.
Funkybot,
You'll have to explain it a little better for me. As always, I'm all ears.
Here's a video I made showing the basic (navigation) functionality for the app.
Let me know what you think.
Thank you.
Watching the video, it already works exactly like I was trying to describe. From the screen prints alone I wasn't getting it, but now that I've seen it, what I was suggesting is already there. So nice job! lol
Watching the video, it already works exactly like I was trying to describe. From the screen prints alone I wasn't getting it, but now that I've seen it, what I was suggesting is already there. So nice job! lol
Great to hear. I was trying to understand what you meant, but glad it is implemented already. I might send you an email to help with defining the pull down options and the Zone Navigators. I'm still a little hazy on those as I haven't used them in a while as far as writing Zone files lately.
Also, I want to figure out the new CSI with the Toggle line being added to the Encoder section. If that makes sense?
Just know I might pick your brain to make sure this thing can output a proper Zone file that works with the new CSI.
what buttons you are using and what are their capabilities. 8 of them, right?
Hi Nick,
Yes, there will be 8 buttons. They have an OLED screen right on top of the button which is 64x64 pixels and I believe is capable of showing 65,000 colors. (it might show more, but I'm being conservative just in case)
As far as capabilities, for now, I'm thinking of keeping the screens to 3 lines of text. I feel like this will give a good size text so that you can fit 7-9 characters, whiles still remaining large enough for people to be able to read. But I may have to adjust this. At the moment, I'm not planning to introduce icons/graphics, but in the future I may add that. Meaning, you won't be able to assign a stop icon or a play icon, etc... to the button screen. I'm trying to keep it simple for now. But it may be a feature I add later on.
Yes, there will be 8 buttons. They have an OLED screen right on top of the button which is 64x64 pixels and I believe is capable of showing 65,000 colors. (it might show more, but I'm being conservative just in case)
As far as capabilities, for now, I'm thinking of keeping the screens to 3 lines of text. I feel like this will give a good size text so that you can fit 7-9 characters, whiles still remaining large enough for people to be able to read. But I may have to adjust this. At the moment, I'm not planning to introduce icons/graphics, but in the future I may add that. Meaning, you won't be able to assign a stop icon or a play icon, etc... to the button screen. I'm trying to keep it simple for now. But it may be a feature I add later on.
Hope that answers your questions.
yes, this was exactly the info I was looking for. Icons would be great
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Icons would be good, but if CSI is controlling the text on screen, then text potentially works out even better because I could label some of the modifiers assigned to the buttons. I'm thinking maybe the screen shows (using maybe FixedTextDisplay)...
DisplayUpperButton1: Play
DisplayMiddleButton1: Loop
DisplayLowerButton1: Home
And my .zon would be something like:
Code:
Button1 Play
DisplayUpperButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Play"
Shift+Button1 CycleRecord
DisplayMiddleButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Loop"
Alt+Button1 GoZone Home
DisplayLwewrButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Home"
...versus an icon where I've got a Play icon on the screen and no hints as to what the modifiers do. And then what happens in an FX.zon? Would it still show the play icon? Text feels "more CSI."
Icons would be good, but if CSI is controlling the text on screen, then text potentially works out even better because I could label some of the modifiers assigned to the buttons. I'm thinking maybe the screen shows (using maybe FixedTextDisplay)...
DisplayUpperButton1: Play
DisplayMiddleButton1: Loop
DisplayLowerButton1: Home
And my .zon would be something like:
Code:
Button1 Play
DisplayUpperButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Play"
Shift+Button1 CycleRecord
DisplayMiddleButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Loop"
Alt+Button1 GoZone Home
DisplayLwewrButton1 FixedTextDisplay "Home"
...versus an icon where I've got a Play icon on the screen and no hints as to what the modifiers do. And then what happens in an FX.zon? Would it still show the play icon? Text feels "more CSI."
This was my thought as well. But I might still add icons. In theory, in certain zones, I could also make the Button assigned to Shift to display a different ICON on the buttons that it can MODIFY. and then go back to the regular ICON when the Shift Button is released. But I'd have to test if this can work.
But I like the idea of seeing the button and already knowing what the modifiers do rather than have to press the modifier to find out.
If CSI allows more than two modifiers (eg Ctrl, Shift, Option, Alt), how would you handle the display of button functions if all of them are mapped to it?
If CSI allows more than two modifiers (eg Ctrl, Shift, Option, Alt), how would you handle the display of button functions if all of them are mapped to it?
Linear Mode
